Break Time?

[MDMasonDixon]

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During the exam, can I get up and take a break with a section still in progress? And if so, will that take away from my break time?

During the Kaplan Sim I would usually have about 15-20 minutes left on each section so I would get up and walk around for about 5-10 minutes with the section still up so that I could save all my break time for lunch. If I cannot do that on test day I do not want to practice that way.

 

[studbud]

Yeah I'm confused about this whole break business during the exam too. Can someone explain that? Like you don't technically get a break at all, you have to take it on your own time? Reminds me of my old job...

 

[withrye]

You are not supposed to leave the computer during a block. If there's an emergency and you have to get up, it's marked as an irregularity and as an unauthorized break.

When you finish a block, you're presented with a screen that asks you if you want to take a break or start the next block. If you finish early, all remaining time in the block is added to your total break time. You can take a break between blocks that's a long as your currently allowed break time.

 

[InFactotum]

If you finish early, all remaining time in the block is added to your total break time.

Can someone confirm this? So, you're saying that if you finish the first say 4 blocks with 10 minutes to spare, you get an additional 40 minutes of break time for lunch that people who took the entire alotted time do not?

 

[withrye]

Can someone confirm this? So, you're saying that if you finish the first say 4 blocks with 10 minutes to spare, you get an additional 40 minutes of break time for lunch that people who took the entire alotted time do not?

Yes. I took the exam a few weeks ago, but you don't have to take my word for it. It's laid out pretty clearly on the usmle website.

 

[MDMasonDixon]

I feel kind of like a douche for asking this question now because it is laid out pretty clearly on the website. Thanks for the input though.